Who is renting the longest?

Did you know that the typical California renter stays in the same unit for 33 months—just shy of 3 years? That’s 18% longer than the national median of 28 months.*

It’s no surprise that, according to RentCafe’s National Rental Market list, California has 5 markets on the Top 25 “Hardest to Rent” list. What areas in California are on that list?

  1. Orange County

  2. Silicon Valley

  3. Eastern Los Angeles County

  4. San Diego

  5. Central Valley

In fact, in Eastern Los Angeles County, the average stay is 40 months, with only 4% vacancy. This means there is fierce competition when you are looking for a rental. 

Why does this matter to you?

Although our brokerage doesn’t manage properties, we help home buyers, home sellers, and sometimes help tenants look for a rental and landlords list properties for lease. We work with buyers looking to expand or diversify their rental portfolio. Owning real estate in Southern California is a long-term goal for many people when it comes to estate planning and building wealth.

These statistics on renters highlight just how high the demand for rental properties is.

When we meet with clients, they’re often considering several options: Should they sell their current home and buy a new one? Or rent out their current home and buy another? Should they continue maintaining an inherited rental property, or is it time to sell? Is it better to buy income property in California, or out of state?

Being a rental property owner isn’t for everyone. Even in a high-demand market, you may face vacancies, tenant damage, and the complexities of California’s rent increase and eviction laws, along with the regulations specific to your city or municipality.

We help sellers, buyers, and people navigating various real estate decisions. If you feel unsure or haven’t figured it all out yet, don’t hesitate to reach out. Call us! We can provide information, fill in any gaps, and help you take decisive action. 

Quick note — if you currently own rental property, you should know that you can sell your property with tenants in place! Your property does not have to be vacant to sell it. 

Real estate is what we do every day, and we love it. Let’s talk!


*SOURCE: https://www.dailynews.com/2025/03/26/where-in-california-do-renters-stay-the-longest/

This content is not the product of the National Association of REALTORS®, and may not reflect NAR's viewpoint or position on these topics and NAR does not verify the accuracy of the content.